Dayton confident despite No. 11 seed, 'Cinderella' label

The Dayton Flyers, who battle top seed Florida in Saturday's final of the NCAA South Regional at FedExForum, could be billed the anti-Elite Eight team. They don't fit the profile.

They have no ‘one-and-done' freshmen.

They are not led by a high-profile coach, although Archie Miller's name has generated momentum during the Flyers' best postseason run in 30 years.

And, to emphasize the low-key persona and team-play concept Miller demands, the Flyers eschew the traditional pregame practice of having their starters run onto the court as they are announced. They are announced while huddling on court with their teammates.

"I don't want guys sitting on the bench and running out and starting acting as if it meant anything," Miller said. "We don't need starters. We need finishers."

Dayton, the South Regional's No. 11 seed, has spent the week, and most of the tournament, answering questions about what it has meant to play the role of Cinderella after reaching the Elite Eight with victories over Ohio State, Syracuse and, Thursday in the Sweet 16, Stanford.

A win over Florida, the tournament's overall No. 1 seed, in Saturday's game — which tips at 5:09 p.m. — would put the "Cinderella" into the Final Four.

Miller has answered questions about the Cinderella label, but doesn't know if it applies to his team, which has won 13 of 15 since the beginning of February. The Flyers earned their way to this stage, beginning with an early season win over nationally ranked Gonzaga, a late-season win at No. 17 St. Louis and tournament victories over the sixth-seeded Buckeyes and the third-seeded Orangemen.

"Cinderella comes up when a team hasn't been (deep into the tournament) in a while," Miller said. "If you're there eight out of nine years and you (reach) a Sweet 16 a couple of times, they don't call you Cinderella."

While most of the country views the Flyers as this March's feel-good story, the Dayton players have been convinced — for the past two months — they belong where they'll stand a few minutes after 5 p.m.

"I would say back in February when we started our run we felt we could play with anybody," said junior guard Jordan Sibert, the Flyers' leading scorer at a team-reflective 12.5 points per game. "After beating St. Louis on the road, beating UMass at home, we felt we could compete with anybody.

"And then we come out in this tournament and we beat Ohio State. And then we beat Syracuse. It just showed we can definitely play with any team in the country."

A win against Florida would put Dayton into the Final Four for the first time since 1967 when Miller was 5 years old. The Flyers are only the sixth 11th seed in NCAA tournament history to reach the Elite Eight.

"Seeding is irrelevant (at this point)," said senior guard Vee Sanford. "It's good (to be a high seed), but we're just playing a game. It's all about how hard you want it and how much you're going to compete."

Miller has had the luxury of calling upon a deep bench. Twelve players have scored in double figures this season. Six Flyers average between 5.7 and 12.5 points, further emphasizing balance and team play.

"We go 11 deep," Sibert said. "We have to believe in each other. We have to believe we can make each other better at any given moment."

Against a Florida team that has won 29 straight, Dayton will attempt to become the fourth No. 11 seed to make the Final Four and the third since 2006. The three previous 11 seeds to reach the Final Four had to go through No. 1 seeds in the Elite Eight.

"At this point in the tournament I think you have to drop the seeding," said forward Devin Oliver. "It's about playing 40 minutes. It's about (playing in) March. They're obviously a good team, but we're going to come out with confidence."